It was all so happy!

The show was stupendous, a magical celebration, a huge success. In a packed auditorium, Canterbury graduates performed, and paid tribute to their school and its teachers and programmes.

Their infusion of caring has strengthened all their teachers.

Political figures represented were Dalton McGuinty, Adrienne Clarkson, and Sheila Copps.

Dalton McGuinty, Ontario's leader of the Opposition Liberals, opened the show with a speech that pledged support to keep Canterbury and its programmes available to his children and his grandchildren.
His father was one of the trustees that voted in the Arts programme originally.

Raoul read a letter from the Governor-General, Adrienne Clarkson, wishing us well.

A wonderful letter arrived from Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

John King, Canterbury's principal, and the man responsible for the vision, the researching and the inauguration of the School of the Arts programmes, came all the way from Florida to attend and support the show.

Congratulations to Raoul and Jessica who hosted the show with flair, humour and passion. Also fluency, intelligence and dignity.

Congratulations and thank you so much! to these BOFA grads:

Tyler Westerlund, David Shea, Jessica Holmes, Raoul Bhaneja Matthew Edison, Martin Gero, Jesse Buck, Andrew Morphew, Amy Rutherford, Kathleen Cornish ( who made her own inimitable clown statement in a VERY short dress and high heels!), Naomi Rachlis, Dennis van Staalduinen, and Brian Frommer ( who was just suddenly there, at the perfect time!)

To the delight of the audience, BOFA arrived on stage in silhouette and yellow light to the strains of the Olympic theme. They then took over the stage with our CNN game, covering a new sport at the Olympics - Curling-luge.

Thank you all for the same old-time BOFA spirit, both in Studio 118 and on stage. Thanks, Martin for helping plan, for the idea of the Olympic theme music, and for agreeing to host CNN.

If you missed the show, you missed the current school orchestra, championship stepdancing and fiddle playing, African dancing, African drumming, opera, Tyley Ross's songs, selections from every musical at CHS by the original singers, a string quartet, jazz singing, Raoul's blues, Jessica's sketch comedy, Derek Carkner's superb accompaniment, a searing selection of poetry and prose - and of course BOFA.
You also missed warmth and applause, and speeches that fired everyone. And a lobby filled with amazing art from Visual grads.

And glitz everywhere - gold and silver, red and blue; the cafeteria was unrecognizable as the reception hall. It even had new walls!

I have to say that we were disappointed that not one member of the present administration of Canterbury attended the show.

Nathan Taylor and Sarah Bezanson filmed the show.

The show raised about $27,000. Yea, Jim McNabb!!! He's a marvel.

Applause to John Pohran and Bob Palmai and Judy Kirsh and so many others.